Gas burner



April 3, 1962 J. K. LAMP, JR 3,027,936

GAS BURNER Filed March 12, 1958 ,I IIIII-IIIIII I INVENTOR.

JAMES K. LAMP, JR.

ATT'YS 3,027,936 GAS BURNER James K. Lamp, Jr., St. Joseph, Mich., asslgnor to Whirlpool Corporatioma corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 720,871 1 Claim. (Cl. 158-105) This invention relates to combustion apparatus and in particular to a fluid fuel burner.

In gas burners utilizing porous burner plates, a sunmering operation has heretofore ordinarily been obtained by reducing the combustible gas flow through the entire burner plate. It is difficult to regulate accurately the gas flow at such reduced rates so that accurate control of the simmering heat output has been diflicult.

Another problem presents itself in utilization of porous burner plates, namely, the difficulty of properly igniting the combustible gas passing through the burner plate. The space below the burner plate is occupied by the gas supply chamber and the gas must not be ignited in this chamber but, rather, only after it has passed through a substantial portion of the burner plate to preclude any backfiring.

The principal feature of this invention is to provide a new and improved fluid fuel burner utilizing a porous burner plate.

Another feature is the provision of such a burner utilizing only a portion of the porous burner plate to provide the simmer function.

A further feature is the provision of such a burner having a symmetrical arrangement of the simmer section.

Another feature is the provision of such a burner having new and improved ignition means.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a burner embodying the invention with portions thereof broken away, the burner being shown mounted on a portion of a supporting means;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section thereof taken approximately along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken approximately along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, illustrating the mounting of the burner on the support;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken approximately along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, showing the means for effecting the sealing association of the elements of the burner; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken approximately along the line 55 of FIG. 1 showing the overhanging support means for maintaining a superposed element above the upper surface of the burner plate.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawings, a burner is mounted on a suitable table member 11 to extend through an opening 12 therein. Suitable combustible gas is provided to burner 10 through a main duct 13 and a simmer duct 14. The gas delivered to burner 10 through ducts 13 and 14 is preferably premixed with a proper amount of air so that theoretical 100% proper combustion takes place.

nited States Patent 0 As best seen in FIG. 2, burner 10 comprises a porous burner plate, or head, 15, an enclosure 16 defining a chamber 17 communicating with the under side 18 of the burner plate, and a distributor plate 19 extending across chamber 17 for controlling the delivery of the combustible gas and air mixture through the burner plate. Associated with burner 10 is a pilot means 20 which ignites the combustible gas within the burner plate. As best seen in FIG. 2, pilot means 20 is secured to member 11 to direct the flame 21 thereof at a peripheral, preferably inwardly sloped, edge wall 22 of the burner plate.

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The distributor plate 19 is arranged to deliver the combustible gas from simmer duct 14 to only a limited portion of the burner plate so that simmering is effected over a reduced area. Combustible gas delivered from main duct 13 is delivered through the distributor plate over substantially the entire remaining area of the burner plate so that a maximum area is available for the main burner function.

More specifically, burner plate 15 comprises a porous plate of permeable refractory material such as disclosed in the patent to Bone et al., No. 1,223,308, issued April 17, 1917. The upper surface 23 is preferably flatand flush with the upper surface of table member 11. The periphery of the burner plate, as defined by edge wall 22, is circular and has a slightly smaller diameter than the circular opening 12 of the table member.

Enclosure 16 comprises a dished member supported by member 11 at spaced portions 24 by suitable connecting lugs 25 and screw means 26. An inlet 27 is provided through the center of enclosure 16, and duct 13 is connected thereto to deliver the main supply of combustible gas and air mixture into chamber 17. A second inlet 28 is provided adjacent the periphery of the enclosure and'simmer duct 14 is connected thereto. An annular gasket 29 is interposed between enclosure 16 and distributor plate 19 sealingly connecting inlet 28 with an aligned aperture 30 in distributor plate 19, whereby the gas and air mixture is sealingly conducted from simmer duct 14 upwardly through distributor" plate 19.

Distributor plate 19 is generally peripherally congruent with enclosure 16 and is spaced upwardly therefrom by means of a sealing peripheral gasket 31. The distributor plate is spaced somewhat below the under side 18 of burner plate 15 by means of a similar sealing gasket 32 whereby chamber 17 is eifectively sealed to have communication only with the under side 18 of the burner plate.

Distributor plate 19 comprises a generally flat, circular plate' having three recessed channel portions 33 radiating outwardly from the mid-portion 34 thereof in a symmetrical angular arrangement. The channels are relatively narrow and open upwardly under corresponding narrow portions of the under side 18 of burner plate 15. As best seen in FIG. 1, aperture 30 extends through the wall portion defining an outer end 35 of one channel 33a so that the combustible gas is delivered from simmer duct 14 to within that channel. The channels 33 are interconnected at mid-portion 34 of the plate 19 whereby combustible gas may flow readily from aperture 30 through all of the channels to pass upwardly therefrom through the under side of the burner plate. Thus, the simmer combustion occurs in burner plate 15 in substantially only the limited portions thereof overlying the channels 33 whereby improved control of the simmer temperature is effected. Because of the symmetrical arrangement of the channels 33, an improved even heat distribution is provided.

Between each pair of channels, distributor plate 19 is provided with holes 36 which are distributed over substantially the entire area between the channels. To provide improved distribution of the combustion in the burner plate, holes 36 are arranged in three concentric annular configurations, namely: an inner configuration 36a of medium size holes 36b adjacent plate mid-portion 34; an intermediate configuration 360 of large holes- 36d and interposed small holes 36c; and an outer configuration 36 of small holes 36c adjacent the periphery of the distributor plate. As seen in FIG. 1, this distribution of holes 36 provides the greatest flow passage area at a distance inwardly from the periphery of the burner plate. Thus, the heat is directed upwardly against the bottom of the device being heated rather than around the sides thereof, while the heat is not concentrated directly at the center of the device. Thus, combustible gas flowing from main duct 13 may pass readily upwardly through the holes to substantially the entire under side 18 of the burner plate, providing a substantially uniform combustionthroughout the entire area of the burner plate.

To secure the distributor plate 19 to enclosure 16 and assure a tight seal therebetween through gasket 31, a plurality of connectors are provided comprising threaded studs 37 extending downwardly through the distributor plate and enclosure, suitable nuts 38 being threaded to the lower end ofthe studs for drawing downwardly the heads 39 of the studs which are received in channels 33. Suitable gaskets 40' may be provided for sealing the openings through distributor plate 19 and enclosure 16 through which the studs 37 extend.

Means for securing the burner plate to the enclosure 16 are shown in FIG. 4. A stud 41 is passed through a clip 42 bearing against a shoulder 43 provided in the peripheral edge wal122 of the burner plate. The stud extends downwardly through a flange 44'projecting outwardly from enclosure 16 having a threaded connecting element 45 mounted thereon. Stud 41 is threaded into the connecting element to urge the burner plate 15 downwardly toward the enclosure 16 and tightly against upper gasket 32.

Pilot means comprises atube 47 extending from a connector 48 mounted'on a bracket 49 secured to the table member 11. Bracket 49 disposes tube 47 so that fiame21 is directed from the tube to impinge 'on edge wall'22 of the burner plate adjacent the outer end 35 of channel 33a. A flame guard 50 may be secured to member 11 to assure the proper disposition of the flame 21 and preclude it from being inadvertently extinguished. Thus, when gas is admitted through aperture to channel33a, it passes upwardly therefrom through the overlying portion of burnerplate 15 and is substantially instantaneously ignited by pilot means 20. As the gas quickly flows from inlet 30 throughout each of the channels 33 and passes upwardly therefrom through the overlying'portions of the burner plate, combustion of the gas in these overlying portions is eifected by the initial ignition of the gas at the end of the channel 33a. When'a main burner operation is desired, combustible gas is delivered from duct 13 through holes 36 to be ignited in burner plate 15 by the previously ignited simmer gas delivered from channels 33 to the burner plate. Thus, a foolproof, automatic ignition of the combustible gas in the burner plate is effected. During normal operation, both the main burner section and the simmer burner sections are operating.

It is preferable that elements to be heated by burner 10 be prevented from resting directly on the upper surface 23 of the burner plate. To this end, a flat ring 51 is placed on the upper ends of the studs 41, which ring is provided with a plurality of fingers 52 extending radially inwardly to overlie mid-portion 34 of the burner plate. Thus, such elements, as containers, etc., may be set on top of fingers 52 in spaced relationship with upper urface 23 of the burner plate.

Advantages emanating from my invention are that the pilot is not subject to spillage from cooking utensils and that it will not be snuffed out by the products of combustion as it would be if it were located within the surface of the burner plate. When the burner is in operation and a pan is resting on the supports above the burner head there is a higher pressure in the center of the plate and a lower pressure on the outside of the plate. This operational characteristic causes a standing pilot which is located within the surface of the burner to be snuffed out after the combustible fluid has been ignited.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A fluid fuel burner, comprising: a continuous porous burner head; an enclosure adjacent the burner head defining acharnber betweensthe enclosure and burner head, means substantiallysealing the enclosureto the burner head in areas peripheral to the chamber; a distributor plate extendingacross the chamber substantially against the burner head .and having a recessed portion opening outwardly to a limited portion of the burner head and a second portion havingfluid passage means extending adjacent an additional portion of the burner head, the recessed portion being arranged to direct fluid fuel from said recessed portion through said limited head portion; means for delivering fuel to the recessed portion only for passage from said-recessed portion outwardly through said limited portion of the burner head; means for delivering, only when desired, additional .fuel to the chamber under said distributor plate exteriorly of said recessed portion for passage upwardly through said second portion-of thedistributor plate and through said additional portion of the burner head; and pilot means for igniting fuel delivered to thelimited portion of the burner head, said additional portion of the burner head being juxtaposed to said limited portion whereby the fuel delivered to the additional portion is ignited by ignited fuel at the limited, portion, said burner head. being substantially circular and the fluid passage means comprising means forming holes for fuel flow therethrough, the holes being arranged to provide for a flow rate at an annular area concentric of the'burner head inwardly of said peripheral areas that is greater than the flow rate immediately adjacent said peripheral areas.

Referencesggitedin :thev file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 784,168 Malin Mar. 7, 1905 962,472 Schneider June 28, 191.0 1,304,755 Ellis May 27, 1919 2,194,208 Moran Mar. 19, 1940 2,227,899 Grubb Jan. 7, 1941 2,311,350 Richardson Feb, 16, 1943 2,781,833 Feyling Feb. 19, 1957 2,828,813 Holden Apr. 1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 544,741 Belgium Feb. 15, 1956 630,672 Germany June 3, 1936 1,095,865 France Dec. 29, 1954 1,137,775 France Jan. 21, 1957 

